HIV-Infected Service Members

Re Perspectives on HIV in the Military, by Robert Dornan and Barry Goldwater, Commentary, March 19:

Is there a different Republican Party that Goldwater belongs to? Or has he just been asleep for 16 years? Come on, Barry. After President Reagan waited until 20,000 U.S. citizens had died of HIV before he publicly said the word “AIDS,” don’t act as if Dornan’s position is something new or extreme. He, at least, is consistent with the position the Republicans have given us since 1980.

If you don’t like what he stands for, consider voting Democratic this fall.

JEFFREY H. HUNT

Chatsworth

As a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, I fully agree with Dornan. Goldwater’s stand on homosexuals in the military and HIV among the military is completely disheartening from a former Air Force major general.

DON CAMPBELL

Seal Beach

I can’t tell you how happy I was to read in Dornan’s commentary that cancer, heart disease and diabetes, some of the conditions besides HIV for which military personnel are classified as nondeployable, are reversible and curable diseases.

But then I realized that this was just another ignorant and unsupportable statement arising out of the thoughts of a hateful and malicious man.

KAREN R. WEINSTEIN

Los Angeles

Dornan says that HIV-infected military personnel are “by definition ill and disabled, notwithstanding that they can still physically function.” Oh, I get it. These people can do the job. They are doing the job. But Dornan sees only the HIV, assumes a violation of military law and wants to kick them around. He just can’t see past his sorry prejudices.

Bravo to Goldwater. I don’t agree with him always, but on this issue, in my heart I know he’s right.

MARK W. SCHAEFFER

Los Angeles